Display support



DISPLAY SUPPORT Filed May 27, 1963 United States Patent O 3,206,150 DISPLAY SUPPORT Albert Lang, Park Forest, and Herman H. Block and Arthur 0. Silver, Chicago, lll., assignors to inventive Fabricators Incorporated, a corporation of Iliinois Filed May 27, 1963, Ser. No. 283,163 ZClaims. (Cl. 248-158) This invention relates to supports and particularly to supports for advertising displays and the like.

This invention comprises a support element adapted to releasably grip a wall of the article to be supported, for example an edge of a tubular support member made of paperboard or other suitable material which may be used to carry an advertising display, or the like. When so used, the tubular support member is maintained in an upright position by aiiixing a plurality of such elements on the walls at the lower end of the tubular member and radially spacing them to provide a supporting base. The elements may also be used to support tubular standards for roping of displays or areas at exhibitions and the like.

In the past, support elements for maintaining tubular support members in upright position were either inserted in the end of the tubular member or the tubular member was inserted in the support. Since the support element could only be used on tubular members of a particular diameter, it was necessary for those utilizing this type of display standard to keep a great number of different size support elements on hand. This type of support element, which is either inserted in the end of the tubular support member or about its end, has not proved satisfactory because of the lack of sufficiently secure gripping action.

Gne of the features of this invention is to provide an improved support element that is readily attached to an article to be supported and the article can vary Widely in size and dimensions.

A specific feature of this invention is to provide an improved support element which can be used with any of a variety of tubular support members.

A further feature is to provide such a support element which will tightly grip the wall of a tubular support member for maintaining the tubular member in an upright position.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of an embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective View of an advertising display supported by a plurality of support elements embodying the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2 2 of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged elevational View of a suport element gripping the wall of a tubular support mem- FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View similar to FIGURE 2 showing a plurality of support elements on a tubular support member; and

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional View taken along line 5-5 of FIGURE 3.

The present invention, as embodied in the device shown in the drawings, involves a support element or foot device generally shown at that may be used for maintaining a support member such as an elongate tubular support member 12 in an upright position as seen in FIGURE 1. The elongate tubular support member 12 may carry an advertising display sign 14.

In a preferred embodiment, the support element 10 comprises a substantially L-shaped foot having a rst elongate portion 16 adapted to rest on a horizontal floor. A second elongate portion 13 is comprised of a pair of opposed jaws 20 and 22 for gripping the wall at the lower end of tubular support member 12.

As best seen in FIGURE 3, the opposed jaws 20 and 22 have complementary shaped gripping surfaces so that when the support element 1i) is forced onto the wall of tubular member 12, the wall is slightly deformed for maintaining a tight grip.

The support element 1i) has a hanged edge 3i) around its entire periphery to give it added strength and rigidity without excessive weight.

The elongate portion 16 and elongate portion 18 are substantially normal to each other. The preferred embodment shown in FIGURE 3 shows them meeting at an angle slightly greater than degrees so that only the outermost end of elongate portion 16 rests on the floor. This is to eliminate any rocking which might be caused by minor Variations in the contour of the supporting door.

The preferred embodiment is also provided with a plurality of holes 24 adapted to receive guy wires (not shown) which may be attached to the tubular member 12 or to display sign 14.

The support element 1i? may be made of any suitable material depending on the strength desired. By way of example and not limitation, for relatively heavy duty the elements may be made of steel, aluminum, or other metal alloys. The elements may also be made out of plastic or other suitable material.

While an illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawings and described in detail herein, the invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms and it should be understood that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplication of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiment illustrated. The scope of the invention is pointed out in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a device for supporting a stand on a base, the stand having an upright support member including a wall, a foot member comprising: a first elongated rigid portion adapted to engage said base; and a second elongated rigid portion upright from said first elongated portion, said second elongated rigid portion having a pair of spaced, opposed, rigid jaws with complementary tortuous gripping surfaces adapted to deform said wall when forced between said jaws to maintain a tight grip on said wall.

2. In an advertising display stand normally supported on a base and having an upright support member including a wall, a plurality of spaced foot members for supporting said stand on said base, each foot member comprising: a first elongated rigid portion adapted to engage said base; and a second elongated rigid portion upright from said first elongated portion, said second elongated rigid portion having a pair of spaced, opposed, rigid jaws with complementary tortuous gripping surfaces adapted to deform said wall when forced between said jaws to maintain a tight grip on said wall.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 960,497 6/ 10 Burkart 248-48 1,453,650 5/23 Willson 248-194 2,332,772 10/43 Amer 24-138 2,919,878 1/60 Nathan 248-194 FOREIGN PATENTS 643,244 9/50 Great Britain.

CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A DEVICE FOR SUPPORTING A STAND ON A BASE, THE STAND HAVING AN UPRIGHT SUPPORT MEMBER INCLUDING A WALL, A FOOT MEMBER COMPRISING: A FIRST ELONGATED RIGID PORTION ADAPTED TO ENGAGE SAID BASE; AND A SECOND ELONGATED RIGID PORTION UPRIGHT FROM SAID FIRST ELONGATED PORTION, SAID SECOND ELONGATED RIGID PORTION HAVING A PAIR OF SPACED, OPPOSED, RIGID JAWS WITH COMPLEMENTARY TORTUOUS GRIP- 